Folding opera-chair



No. a|2, ss4. Patented Oct. l8, I898. o. L. STORY.

FOLDING OPERA CHAIR.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet IL WITNESSES Y INVENTOH dd; dab/$1 MJ ATTORNEYI.

N0. 6l2,634. Patented Oct. I8, I898. 0. L. STDRY. FOLDING OPERA CHAIR.

(Applicatipn filed Apr. 22, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

WITNESSES Hi /@Q/%,

QM d ATTORNEY) ORVILLE LINCOLN STORY, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDINGOPERZA-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,634, dated October 18, 1898.

Application filed April 22, 1898. Serial No. 678,533. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORVILLE LINooLN STORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Opera-Chairs, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fold in g chairs an d it has especial relation to that class of folding chairs which are designed for use in operahouses and for similar purposes and which are usually constructed in sections of two or more.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved folding chair of this character which will be convenient and effective and which can be folded into an extremely compact condition.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same letters ofreference in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section consisting of two chairs constructed according to my invention, the chairs being in open position. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same in folded position. Fig. 3 is a side View in open position, and Fig. 4. is a side view in closed position.

Referring to the drawings, A A designate side bars, which extend longitudinally from the top to the bottom and form the back portion and the front leg-supports when the chair is in open position ready for use.

B B designate supplementary side bars, which are shorter than the bars A and are pivotally connected to the latter, as at b. The portions of these supplementary bars projecting above the pivot 1) form supports for the front end of the arm-piece, while the lower portions of said bars form the rear legs or supports when the chair is open. The bars 13 are adapted to fold into flat parallel position against the outer face of the bars A.

O designates bars which form arms and are pivotally connected at their front ends, as at c, to the top ends of the bars B and have a pivotal connection at their rear ends, as at c, with the bars A, this rear pivotal connection being formed by a longitudinally-ar ranged slot or in the bar A, in which the pivotpin 0 is adapted to slide. The relative construction and arrangement are such that when the chair is in open position the bars 0 are in a horizontal plane, (see Fig. 3;) but when the chair is in folded or closed position the bars 0 slide upwardly and assume a parallel position with relation to the bar A and against the outer face of the latter. (See Fig. A.)

D D designate the seat-bars, which are pivotally connected, as at d, to the bars A at a point below the pivot b. WVhen the chair is in open position, the seat-bars D are adapted to rest upon a cross-piece E, arranged upon the bars A A in front of the pivot I), while their rear ends bear upwardly against a similar cross-piece F, arranged upon the bars 13 B. When the chair is folded, the side bars D assume a parallel position against the inner face of the bars A.

The back and seat of the chair are formed by a flexible strip G, suspended between a cross-piece Il, connecting the top ends of the bars A, and a cross-piece 1, connecting the top ends of the bars D.

In constructing my improved folding chair in sections of two or more chairs it will only be necessary to provide a single supplemem tary bar B and arm-bar 0 between each pair of chairs in the section, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which bars B and C will be pivotally connected with and operate between two adjoining side bars A.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. The armbar 0 forms virtually an extension of the side bar B, by which the latter is connected to the bar A, and when said arm-bar is in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 it operates to lock the frame in position for use. It will also be noted that the seat portion formed by the bars D can be swung upwardly without folding up the chair, under which circum pact form which will occupy virtually only a space equivalent to the width of the side bars A.

It will be noted that the construction is such that when the chair is in use the bottom rails Will come into a position for convenient service as a hat-rack.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. An improved folding chair of the class described,comprising the main side bars, supplementary side bars pivotally connected to the main side bars, means for retaining said bars in relatively open position, and the seatbars pivotally connected to the main side bars and having a bearing sustained by the main side bars in front of the pivot and a bearing sustained by the supplemental side barsin rear of the pivot, whereby said seat-bars can be folded up independently of the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An improved folding chair of the class described, comprising the main side bars, the supplementary side bars pivotall'y'connected to said main bars, the arm-bars pivotally'connected at their front portion to the portion of the supplementary side bars which projects above the pivot of the latter, said arm-bars f having a movable connection at their rear 1 end with the main side bars, and the seat-bars pivotally connected to the main side bars and having a bearing sustained by the main side barsin front of the pivot and a bearing sustained by the supplementary side bars in rear of the pivot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An improved folding chair of the class described, comprising the main side bars having the longitudinally-arranged slot in their upper portion, the supplementary side bars pivotally connected to the main side bars,

the arm-bars having their front ends pivot- Ially connected to the portion of the supplementary side bars which projects above the pivot of the latter, the rear ends of said armbars having a pivotal and longitudinally-slid- Zing connection with the main side bars by {means of said longitudinal slot, the seat-bars ipivotally connected to the main side bars, the ]support for said seat-bars carried by'the main jsidebarsa't a point in front of the pivot of {the seat-bars, and the bearing-piece carried by the supplementary side bars and operating 'to retain the seat-bars in position, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of'the subscribing witnesses, this 4th day of April, 1898.

ORVILLE LINCOLN STORY.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH J; GILES, HARRY VAN IDERSTINE. 

